I once saw a whale with a gold tooth

He rose right out the sea

and opened his mouth in the morning sun

and showed that tooth to me

Once I was fishing the deep ground

with nigh six pounds of lead

and I caught a cod as big as a man

and he had a man's head

There aint no end to what I'd tell

once I was well begun

like seein the devil rise from the sea

instead of the risin sun

or sea snakes lashin the moonlit sea

with their terrible lollopins

or the little mermaids with their diamond eyes

and solid silver fins

For some have eyes to see strange sights

and such a one I be

but I aint known as an honest man

and nobody harks to me

-my memory of Ruth Moore's poem

Please note:

I don't like the "lightbox" feature. For best viewing results, click through to see the large size image un-resized and finished as intended.